AMHERST MAYOR DEFENDS STUDENTS

Students At Amherst Regional High School Are No Different From
Teenagers Anywhere Else In The Province.

The arrest and suspension of 36 students as a result of a drug raid
at the school last week could happen at any high school, say the
town's mayor, police and school board officials.

"This issue is like the spoiled apples in a great big barrel," Mayor
Robert Small said Thursday.

"This is a school of high achievers, with great kids and a great
staff and a small percentage of those who are doing wrong.

"You've got kids in every school who will make mistakes and we're
hoping these kids will learn from this mistake."

Deputy police chief Ian Naylor agreed. "That's a great school and the
kids who go there are no different than at any other school in the
province," he said. "It's certainly realistic to say there are drugs
in every community - it's not just Amherst."

Carolyn Pierce, spokeswoman for the Chignecto-Central regional school
board said the students involved in the Amherst investigation
represent only five per cent of the 737 students in the school.

"We want to provide a safe learning environment for our students,"
she said. "Any drug use in school is a concern."

Justice Minister Ross Landry said he doesn't like to see young people
in the justice system.

"What I'm looking for here and hopefully (what) comes out of this is
a learning opportunity for people," Landry said at Province House.

Their comments follow news that the number of students being
investigated for drug use at the school climbed to 36 from 22.

An integrated street crime unit, comprised of police officers from
Amherst, Springhill and Cumberland County RCMP, conducted a
surveillance of the school after police received a complaint about
students using drugs on school grounds.

The week long investigation, which included videotaping, culminated
in arrests of 22 students last Friday. The remaining 14 were arrested
this week.

"The marijuana seized would be in quantities for personal use and a
small number of pills were also seized," Naylor said.

The officer said he couldn't say what type of pills they were because
he's still waiting test results. All 36 students have been suspended
from school for at least five days.